Car-jacker named after challenge by Bristol journalist

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A knife-wielding teenaged car-jacker who forced a man to drive him round two cities during a 10-hour kidnap ordeal was named after an application by a journalist.

Bristol Evening Post reporter Geoff Bennett submitted a written application to Judge Julian Lambert asking him to lift an anonymity order under section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 which had given 14-year-old Kamari Harrison anonymity.

Harrison was jailed for six years at Bristol Crown Court on August 12 after having admitted robbery and kidnap in May.

Bennett, the Evening Post’s Crown Court reporter, said he had submitted a brief written submission arguing that Harrison should be identified because of the seriousness of his offences and the public interest in knowing the identity of those who committed violent crimes.

“I have found that judges tend to be receptive to a written representation which concisely states the reasons for wanting a reporting restriction order lifted,” Bennett said.

Catherine Spedding, for Harrison, of Barton Hill, Bristol, had argued that he should remain anonymous, but the judge decided to lift the order, saying that any disadvantage to Harrison was outweighed by the public interest in knowing who had committed the offences.

The judge had heard that Harrison, who was armed with a four-inch blade, set upon Adrian Park, 18, as he left his college in Bristol in mid-afternoon.

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After making Park visit a McDonald’s drive-through and stop for fuel, Harrison ordered him to take him and his friends on a 70-mile round trip to Gloucester. On the way Park was made to withdraw about £300 from cash machines.

At the end of the terrifying journey along the M5, Harrison told Park to get out of his car, then sped off in it.

Park – who had since suffered sleeping problems and flashbacks – walked home, found his father and the police were called.

The car was reported stolen, and officers who stopped it the following day discovered Harrison inside.